Fans

Sporting KC Show Podcast: Khiry Shelton and Kerry Zavagnin talk season opener ahead of Vancouver trip

The Sporting KC Show Podcast, dropping throughout the season on Sports Radio 810 WHB, is now available on Spotify and iTunes. With Nate Bukaty, Jacob Peterson and Carter Augustine hosting the weekly program, Sporting fans have a place to go to catch up on club storylines, player achievements, guest interviews and more.




Take a deep breath and rejoice, Sporting Kansas City fans: the 2020 MLS regular season is here.


Manager Peter Vermes' men will kick off the new campaign Saturday night at BC Place in Vancouver, facing the Whitecaps in a Western Conference tilt slated for 9:30 p.m. CT.


Considering the momentous circumstances provided by a Week 1 slate in which all 26 MLS clubs take the field, it should come as no surprise that Tuesday's new episode of The Sporting KC Show Podcast was an absolute hit.


Sports Radio 810 WHB hosts Nate Bukaty and Jacob Peterson first welcomed assistant Kerry Zavagnin, who enters his 21st consecutive season at Sporting as either a player or a coach. True to his charismatic and well-spoken form, Zavagnin provided insight on how the 2020 preseason has differed from last year's preseason, the increased importance of high-quality international scouting in MLS, and the keys to controlling a new-look Whitecaps side led by Canadian international striker Lucas Cavallini and second-year head coach Marc Dos Santos.


Following Zavagnin on the program was Sporting forward Khiry Shelton, now in his second stint at the club. The versatile attacker previously helped Sporting to a first-place finish in the West before spending 2019 in Germany with SC Paderborn 07. In an honest and reflective discussion, Shelton shared what went right and wrong in Europe, why he chose to return to Kansas City, how he fits into the squad and the team's ambitious goals heading into 2020.


Listen to the full episode below.



Saturday's Western Conference battle will mark the first time ever that Sporting has kicked off an MLS season in the month of February, giving eager fans an early dose of MLS action as Week 1 commences across the United States and Canada.


Supporters can catch the game on FOX Sports Kansas City, FOX Sports Midwest Plus and FOX Sports GO, including 30 minutes of pre-match and post-match coverage with Bukaty, Peterson and touchline reporter Carter Augustine on the call. Fans can also listen locally on Sports Radio 810 WHB (English) and La Grande 1340 AM (Spanish).